Real Madrid star and world record signing Gareth Bale to be given special treatment by Wales

The forward won’t always have to report for international duty even when fit.

In a somewhat farcical decision, Wales national team manager Chris Coleman has admitted Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale will be given special treatment during international breaks.

The 24-year-old will not always have to report for duty with the Welsh team even when the attacker is fit, because Madrid do not want to risk their world record signing getting injured.

“There will be pressure from Madrid for him not to come with us. It’s important we are not dogmatic about it. They will bite us on the backside in the end,” Coleman was quoted by the Telegraph.

“For the bigger picture it might be worth us saying: ‘Just miss this one.’ It depends on when the game is. It depends on what we have got coming up and they have got coming up.

“If we were away and he’d had a lot of football and he was tired, even if he was fit that could be a conversation we have.”

This preferential treatment of the nation’s best player is hardly going to go down well with the rest of the squad, especially when stars such as Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey are involved in arguably as equally high profile matches.

It also sends out a message that in Coleman’s view, sometimes club football is more important than playing for one’s country.

The might of Madrid has always had great power but when a side can dictate whether or not their player can leave for international duty it’s beginning to go too far.

It happens all the time but the club v country debate continues to rage on.